Ithra’s Eid celebration promises to ‘bloom with joy’

DHAHRAN: Eid Al-Fitr festivities at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, Ithra, will have a spring theme this year with the tagline “blooms with joy.” From April 11-13, the center will be filled with fun and educational activities for the whole family.

Eid at Ithra will be open from 4 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. on all its designated Eid days.

Chocolate lovers can create their own tasty creations at the heart of Ithra, in the Plaza area, from opening time until 11 p.m. There will be a station set up with milk and white chocolate where participants will be able to add any — or all — toppings provided to make their own chocolate bar.

The Plaza will also be the scene for live music throughout the three nights.

Up the famous escalator, in the exhibition area in the library, will be plenty of Eid-centric storytelling. “In Ithra's Eid we will share the joy through stories, meet new characters, gain values, and answer questions,” Ithra said in a statement. The library will also host an interactive game — or a few.

Outside in the Lush Garden, an interactive maze will be set up that will challenge visitors to solve quests along the way.

At the Energy Exhibit, experts will perform live experiments in an attempt to answer interesting questions, such as: Does science factor into Eid decorations? Do bubbles have chemical reactions? What makes light glow?

Each day at 4:30 p.m., three short films will be shown at the cinema: “Saleeg” features a stubborn grandmother who accidentally boils a pot of rice too long in the kitchen and is forced to seek assistance from strangers; “Radimah” is about jasmine — the aromatic plant with deep roots in the Jazan region; while “Alrufea” is a documentary about a community of the same name.  

At 8 p.m. each day, Ithra’s own “Valley Road,” a fantastical film that tells a Saudi-centric story, will be shown at the cinema. The films will be in Arabic with English subtitles.

While all activities at Ithra’s Eid are free, select events require you to purchase a ticket to enter.

The Children’s Museum provides ample chances for the youngsters to have fun while learning. The Eid Around the World program promises to reveal global and local Eid traditions and rituals.

The Energy Exhibit will offer a live family play titled: “The Village of Happiness.”

Each night of Eid, the Ithra Theater will host two live performances of “Hikayat Farah with Chorolla.” The first hour-long show starts at 6:30 p.m. and the other at 8:30 p.m.  

Tickets can be bought directly at Ithra on the day of the event, with a discount for Ithra members.